Submission forms for Shots & Chasers are available online at www.playbackmag.com/onthespot.

#1

A group of fearless young men leap from building-top to building-top high above Toronto’s streets in ‘Tic Tac Toe,’ a spot for Microsoft’s Xbox from The Partners’ Film Company created by MacLaren McCann, Toronto, which transforms the usually stagnant game into an extreme sport… And the best part is it’s all real.

With little help from his supporting cast, Oshawa, ON-born actor Jonathan Wilson’s performance in ‘Latte 911’ for Janes Family Foods secured the comedy spot top marks in the talent category.

Following last year’s maiden launch, the Canadian Cinema Showcase is again touring the U.K., from Jan. 9 to March 30. Six Canuck features are being screened in 15 cities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Sheffield and Dublin.

Top animation and F/X this year goes to Toronto-based Red Rover Studio’s ‘Matrix’ spot for Toyota through Saatchi & Saatchi’s local office.

After screening more than 200 spots, it was the music from ‘Anthem’ that the judges were humming, and still are, and there was no argument over recognizing the spot for the Mini Cooper in the best music and sound design category.

For Michelle Czukar, editor at Toronto post house Panic & Bob Editing, the most important thing an editor can bring to a spot is a fresh perspective.

* Paul Lewis replaces Ken Murphy as president and general manager of Discovery Channel.

The following is a listing of Canadian commercial production houses in alphabetical order. Information is based on questionnaires completed by companies which chose to respond to Playback’s survey.

In 2003, expect Canadian media and broadcasting companies to reap benefits from the restructuring initiatives and cost-cutting efforts undertaken in 2002.

This year’s edition of the CFTPA’s Prime Time in Ottawa, Feb. 5-7, features a wide range of high-profile guest speakers and panelists, including movie producer Ivan Reitman, CRTC chair Charles Dalfen, CCTA president and CEO Janet Yale, Globe and Mail columnist Jeffery Simpson, Canada’s Consul General in Los Angeles Colin Robertson and Telefilm Canada executive director Richard Stursberg.